Gayle Harper

Photographer ~ Author ~ Traveler

  • Home
  • About Gayle
  • About the Book
  • Praise
  • News
  • Media Room
  • Blog
  • Contact
Acclaim Press
(2014-11-01)
240 pages
$39.95 + Shipping
ISBN: 978-1938905636

Order Signed Copies

Your copy will be signed by the author. If you would also like it personalized, just click the “Add” link next to “Inscription” field that appears during checkout, and enter the individual’s name!

(Shipping is for continental USA. Missouri residents will be charged 7.6% sales tax. If you’d like your signed copy shipped elsewhere, please contact Gayle first!)

Follow Us on FacebookFollow Us on TwitterFollow Us on Google+

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 185 other subscribers

Recent Posts

  • The Hundred Acre Wood
  • The Circle of Life
  • First Day of Spring
  • Join us if you live in Southwest Missouri for a fun evening!
  • How About a Spring Road Trip?

Recent Comments

  • Clyde S. Gorsuch on First Day of Spring
  • Mz Vic on The Hundred Acre Wood
  • Gayle on The Hundred Acre Wood
  • Marilyn Freyer on The Hundred Acre Wood
  • Gayle Harper on The Hundred Acre Wood

Archives

The Circle of Life

March 23, 2020 by Gayle Harper 12 Comments

A couple of times in recent days, I have had a feeling that I remember having when someone dear to me passed away.  There was a sensation of seeing life around me go on merrily – people laughing, a gorgeous sunset, lighthearted music playing. I remember looking around, stunned – how could it all still be happening like this when I feel like the world has just been flattened, smashed.

Yesterday, my husband and I walked in the sunshine, breathing deeply. My eyes wanted to grow wider so I could take in a whole grove of trees filled with blossoms. I wished I could angle my ears like a cat to catch every note of the songbirds celebrating spring. I was filled with awe at the marvels of Nature.

In the next instant, I passed a woman with her arms tightly wrapped around herself and eyes dark with fear and sadness. And there was that feeling…the awareness of the profound contrast between the joyful, abundant beauty of the natural world and the massive anxiety and pain being experienced by humanity.

For a second, it was disorienting. Then, I was flooded, saturated with gratitude. It is spring. If the signs aren’t yet obvious where you live, they will be soon. Life for us as humans is always on a pendulum that swings between joy and sadness, pleasure and pain. Regardless of where our current experience falls on that continuum, the essence of all life is Love, Beauty and Creativity.

When a giant redwood tree falls, or even when it is cut to a stump by loggers, a circle of new baby trees, clones of the original, will often grow up around the stump. This is called a Fairy Ring, or sometimes a Family Circle. The ancient “mother tree” likely lived many centuries, growing steadily and peacefully through wars, famines and pandemics. Left alone, these new trees will do the same. Life continues to renew itself.

Let Nature be a source of hope, peace and comfort to you now. Take a walk in the trees if you possibly can. It is safe and healthy there. Science has proven what we have always known intuitively – forests, even small strips of urban forests, promote health and well-being. If that’s not possible, do what you can to be near living, growing things. We need to feel connected with each other now – most of us seem to be recognizing that. What may not be as obvious is that we need – profoundly need – to know we are a part of the natural world. We need to feel our place in the irrepressible cycle of Life that goes on, unstoppable, through any and all experiences.

And please, if you are so moved, share your thoughts and experiences here. We would all love to hear them.

Love,

Gayle

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Blog

Comments

  1. Kim says

    March 23, 2020 at 8:57 pm

    Thank you for this Gayle. I’m drawn to being outdoors too. Yesterday, I walked in the chilly misty rain with one of my favorite aunts while listening to the birds singing. It was sweet. Love hearing from you. Thanks for taking the time to share beauty with all of us.

    Reply
    • Gayle Harper says

      March 23, 2020 at 9:14 pm

      I actually love being outdoors in that kind of weather. It somehow feels very intimate with Nature. Thanks so much for writing and sharing your experience.

      Reply
  2. Millie Carter says

    March 23, 2020 at 11:10 pm

    Hi Gayle

    So happy to see your post and thought of you often since stopping by to purchase my book.

    Today I sat in my car watching the last rays of the evening and the beauty and silence of the Cumberland River and Old Hickory Lake was amazing. One word would be “Peaceful”

    Millie Carter

    Reply
    • Gayle Harper says

      March 24, 2020 at 7:46 am

      Hello Millie!
      Thanks for sharing that. And great to remind people that even from your car the peace of the natural world is available. A natural relaxer that’s free and has no side effects! 😊

      Reply
  3. Dottie says

    March 24, 2020 at 9:08 am

    Beautiful thoughts and words. Thanks, Gayle for taking us there!

    Reply
    • Gayle Harper says

      March 24, 2020 at 9:40 am

      Thank you Dottie. I realize there are lots of ways to travel.

      Reply
  4. Kaye says

    March 24, 2020 at 12:38 pm

    What a wonderful reminder of all that we should be grateful for! The calming effect of Mother Nature is profound. Thank you for your inspiring words!

    Reply
    • Gayle Harper says

      March 24, 2020 at 12:51 pm

      Thank you, Kaye. I appreciate you taking the time to respond. I’m listening to the birds strike up a chorus right now after a thunderstorm moved through this morning. Makes my heart smile!

      Reply
  5. Kay L Myers says

    March 27, 2020 at 7:44 am

    Thanks for the beautiful reminder and even while doing the small task of picking up fallen tree limbs in the yard yesterday I noticed and enjoyed all the little flowers in the grass and the promises of spring. There are many wonderful places in and near Springfield to hike and/or you don’t have to go further than your yard!

    Reply
    • Gayle Harper says

      March 27, 2020 at 7:46 am

      Thank you Kay! You are so right. At this moment, just before first light, the birdsong pouring in my window is incredible.

      Reply
  6. Leslie Carrier says

    April 4, 2020 at 1:37 pm

    WIth all the stories about the virus and staying home, it’s so nice to read something soothing and refreshing! One positive of this is many people are connecting with nature in a way they haven’t done in a long time, so your words very much ring true right now. I love the Fairy Circle concept….we are all living a Fairy Circle right now as we surround and support each other as best we can. Thankfully Spring is showing us her colors and the energy to keep on bloomin’!

    Reply
    • Gayle Harper says

      April 4, 2020 at 1:40 pm

      Thank you, Leslie! Nothing is ever really single-sided, is it? There are gifts from this as well as much pain. And you are so right – Love will see us through this.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Copyright © 2023 Gayle Harper